Tree 2-25 m. in height, the trunk 5-60 cm. in diam., the young branches to- mentellous to puberulous. Leaves with a terete petiole 0.5-2 cm. long, tomentellous to puberulous, the stipules small and triangular, the blade ovate, ovate-oblong, oblong or seldom narrowly oblong, slightly to very much inaequilateral, rounded to cordate at the base, long-acuminate at the apex, ca. 6-16 cm. long and 2-6 cm. wide, membranous to chartaceous, sometimes subcoriaceous, the margins irregu- larly dentate to serrate, the upper surface shortly puberulous, seldom glabrous, gener- ally scabridulous and sometimes somewhat lustrous, the lower surface puberulous to tomentellous, the pubescence either of only appressed hairs or of appressed and spreading hairs, 3- to 7-nerved at the base, the nervation reticulate and prominent beneath. Inflorescences thyrsiform, the ultimate axes scorpioid, the axes and bracts densely puberulous to tomentellous. Flowers with a pedicel ca. 3-6 mm. long; calyx ca. 3 mm. in diam., divided irregularly into 3 lobes ca. 3 mm. long, densely puberulous to tomentellous outside and glabrous or nearly so inside; petals obovate, slightly bifid at the apex, ca. 4 mm. long (without appendage) and 2 mm. wide, the claw ca. 0.5-1 mm. long, the appendage ca. 5 mm. long and bifid for ca. 3 mm., yellowish, puberulous outside, glabrous inside; staminal tube 1.2-1.5 mm. long, glabrous outside, loosely puberulous and with simple hairs on the upper part inside, the filaments ca. 0.8-1 mm. long, the staminodes ca. 0.8-1 mm. long and loosely puberulous; anthers very small, reddish; ovary ovoid to globose, ca. 0.8-1 mm. long and 0.8 mm. broad, shortly puberulous especially on the upper half; style and stigma ca. 1-1.5 mm. long. Capsule oblong, oblong-ellipsoid to globose, rounded on both ends, 1.5-4 cm. long and 1.2-2.5 cm. broad, black at maturity, tuberculate, the tubercles short, stout and more or less pyramidal, puberulous when young, indehiscent (the tubercles separating irregularly at maturity to a greater or less degree), somewhat pulpy inside; seeds numerous, obovoid, ca. 2.5-3.5 mm. long and 1.8-2 mm. wide, the testa maculate.

Habit

Tree

Distribution

A polymorphous species widely distributed throughout the American tropics; frequent in pastures and second-growth forest, usually on dry soil, sometimes on swampy soil, chiefly near sea level.

Elevation

near sea level.

Note

In his recent revision of the genus, G. F. Freytag (Ceiba 1: 193-225, pl. 1-4, figs. 1951) considers that G. ulmifolia is composed of two separate species: G. ulmifolia and G. tomentosa H. B. K., the differential characters being the de- hiscence or indehiscence of the capsules, the form of the base of the petals, and the form and pubescence of the leaves. Study of abundant material from Panama and Central America, however, does not permit me to agree with Freytag. I con- sider the variations of the petals and leaves as extreme variations within a single species, all intermediate stages being present, and I believe that the capsule is always indehiscent or sometimes very incompletely loculicidally dehiscent. The mucilaginous sap of the guacimo is used sometimes to clarify sirup in the manufacture of sugar and the bark contains a tough fiber employed for cordage; the capsule contains a small quantity of sweet edible pulp.